The Chargers have signed one of their division rivals’ longest-tenured players.

Shortly after the official start of free agency on Wednesday afternoon, the Chargers inked tight end Virgil Green to a three-year deal — bringing aboard a veteran they knew well from division matchups against the Broncos.

Green had spent the last seven seasons in Denver, where he first landed in 2011 as a seventh-round pick out of Nevada. Primarily a blocking tight end, the 29-year-old has seen his responsibilities expand in recent years. He has caught one touchdown pass in each of the last four seasons, and had 14 receptions for 191 yards while starting all 16 games in 2017.

His arrival could push out both Jeff Cumberland and Sean McGrath, who enter free agency after filling similar roles for the Chargers last fall. The two reserve tight ends combined to make six catches for 48 yards, with the bulk of that coming on a 23-yard gain by McGrath in Week 14.

Green’s presence seems less likely to affect the future of Antonio Gates, a free agent again three months shy of his 38th birthday. The future Hall of Famer offers a different skill set on offense, and could potentially return to the Chargers as a backup for Hunter Henry and a locker-room leader. Clearly in the twilight of his career, Gates was still effective down the stretch in 2017 — catching 10 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown after a lacerated kidney sidelined Henry for the final two games.

The Chargers brought back a few key contributors as well, agreeing to new deals for defensive back Adrian Phillips and Michael Schofield earlier in day. They also announced a second-round tender for receiver Tyrell Williams, and a right-of-first-refusal tender for defensive end Chris McCain.

Phillips agreed to a one-year deal, and will reprise his role as a versatile part of the Chargers’ dime and nickel defenses. Nominally a safety, Phillips also took on linebacker duties in certain packages, and played over 80 percent of defensive snaps during the Chargers’ late-season four-game winning streak.

Schofield, waived by Denver last September, started five games for the Chargers as an injury replacement for right tackle Joe Barksdale. He returns on a two-year deal.

The Chargers could fill other positions of need in the coming weeks. On Thursday, they are reportedly set to host former Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski, a 16-year veteran who could solve one of their biggest sore spots. The Chargers went through four kickers in 2017, and they combined to make just 20 of 30 field goals. Janikowski, 40, missed all of last season with back injury, but has a career field goal percentage of 80.4.

The club may also have to replace free safety Tre Boston, who had a team-high five interceptions last season. If he leaves as a free agent, the Chargers could turn to players like Tyrann Mathieu and Ron Parker, who were cut this week by Arizona and Kansas City, respectively.

Jack Wang covers the Chargers, the latest NFL team to relocate to Los Angeles. He previously covered the Rams, and also spent four years on the UCLA beat, a strange period in which the Bruins' football program often outpaced their basketball team. He is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley, where he spent most of his time in The Daily Californian offices in Eshleman Hall — a building that did not become earthquake-safe until after his time on campus.